Marina Blog

Fall and Winter Season Boats Arrive
November 11, 2012

Our Fall and Winter Seasonal Boaters are returning to their favorite Resort Marina in the Middle Florida Keys. We are thrilled to see old friends like Seabird Marine and the Waterbender returning and we welcome new members to our boating family. It's not too late to join them. Contact us to book your Winter monthly or seasonal stay at Hawks Cay Marina where you can do everything, or do nothing at all. We truly are the Only Key You Need.

November is the month when many of our wintertime pelagic (migratory) fish start showing up in the Florida Keys as water temperatures cool. These include kingfish, wahoo, tuna, and one of the Florida Keys’ most popular species… sailfish! All of which can be caught just beyond the reef and within a short boat ride from the Hawks Cay Marina docks.

That’s just one of the great things about fishing in the Florida Keys. You don’t have to spend valuable fishing time running to and from your spots. In just minutes you can be anchored on the reef catching snapper and grouper (which November is historically excellent for); hunting bonefish, tarpon, redfish, and permit on the flats and in the backcountry; and offshore battling those hard-fighting pelagics.

In addition to the excellent fishing, November also provides thrill seekers with a few windy days to get out and kiteboard! Hawks Cay is the proud new home of Otherside Boardsports, the premier Florida Keys kiteboard instructors and gear rental providers. Not quite ready to try kiteboarding? Head down the road to the Otherside’s Cable Park, where you can zip across the calm waters of a protected lagoon as you’re pulled by an overhead towing cable. It’s a great place for beginners to get comfortable on a board, and for pros to hone their skills. To find out more about water adventures of all kinds, I always recommend heading down to the docks of Hawks Cay Marina and talking to the expert captains, dive masters, and dock team.

Tight lines and good fishing… Sheldon

Stranded in Paradise
October 23, 2012

The winds are gusting a bit this week and we have had some boaters make the wise choice to stop rocking and rolling and pull into Hawks Cay Marina. Why not indulge in some quality pool time, a luxurious spa treatment, delicious meals, or Sundance Watersport's answer to bumpy sea conditions-a segway tour? A little wind can be a great excuse to get stranded in Hawks Cay Resort and Marina, the only key you'll need. You can also enjoy our Spooky Good Dockage Deal this week!

Egret Boats Visit Hawks Cay Marina
October 19, 2012

Welcome to Egret Boats! We are pleased to host Egret Boat owners and to show off these beautiful flats skiffs in our marina. Weather is beautiful, so we look forward to great fishing reports over the next 3 days.

October Dockage Deal so good its Spooky!
October 8, 2012

Witches Fly, the Great Pumpkin Rises, and Boaters Cruise-It must be October in the Florida Keys.Whether you’re traveling to and from the Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, cruising to Fantasea Fest, or just looking for the perfect place to experience the beauty of Fall from the water in the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay Marina offers you the finest Resort Marina in the Middle Keys at a rate so good it’s Spooky. Cruise into our Main Marina between October 15th and 31st, and we will give you 15% off of our Fall Value Daily or Weekly Dockage rates. That’s a nightly rate of 2.55 per foot plus resort fee and tax or a weekly rate of 12.75 per 7 night week plus resort fee and tax. Ask for the Spooky Good Dockage Special and take a heading to Hawks Cay Marina, the Only Key You’ll Need.

Off the Grid at Hawks Cay Marina
October 8, 2012

Pershing Yacht Off the Grid graced Hawks Cay Marina with sleek modern style this past weekend, much to the delight of resort and marina guests. We look forward to the next visit from owner and crew of this special yacht.

Gone to the Dogs!
October 6, 2012

Do you cruise with a Dog on Deck, a Cat in the Cockpit, a Bird on the Bow? Share your Cruisin' Critter shots with us and we will make your best friend famous. Check out our Cruisin Critters photos and be sure to email yours to marina@hawkscay.com. Here's a hint for Canine Cruisers: Our regulars will tell you to knock on the Dock Office window, or send your human boat-mates in to the office, and the staff will be happy to reward you for cruising in with Doggie Bones!

The signs of fall are here. The weather is beginning to cool; the snowbirds are flying home for the winter; and our fall migratory fish species are starting to show back up in the Keys’ waters, including cobia, sailfish, and kingfish—all of which can be caught just a few miles from the dock at Hawks Cay!

October is one of my favorite times of year to fish in the Florida Keys because there are so many different types of fish that you can target. Offshore, it’s a great time to make the run to the Marathon Hump for blackfin tuna, and we also get another shot to catch those big slammer dolphin (mahi mahi) as they make their return south after spending the summer fattening up in the North Atlantic and Carolina regions.

On the reef, October is a great month for targeting mangrove and yellowtail snapper. While on the wrecks, this is prime time for catching mutton snappers, amberjacks, cobias, kingfish, and more.

On the flats, you have an excellent shot of landing a trophy bonefish on fly and spinning gear. As the water cools many of the big bonefish will make their way onto the flats, so be ready to make that perfect cast! In the backcountry, look for an excellent bite for redfish, speckled trout, sharks, and resident tarpon. Stop down at docks to see what our world-class fishing guides caught today!!!

Tight lines and good fishing… Sheldon

Fantastic Fall Fishing
September 26, 2012

Wow, what a week it's been for fishing from Hawks Cay Marina. It truly has been a smorgasbord of action, from the 63+ pound Wahoo caught aboard the Snapshot, to the Blue Marlin released by the Tailwalker 3. How about GM AC Delco anglers catch of multiple Tarpon and a Redfish on fly from the Tarpon Time and Ladyfish, Sharks Snook and Snapper caught on the rest of the Backcountry fleet in the morning followed by Hook and Cook at Alma featuring Yellowtail Snapper and Grouper hooked aboard Final Final and Chelsey Lynn the same afternoon-now that's a full day of fishing! Don't forget the newly wed Kelly's honeymoon haul of Snapper and Mackerel on the Tailwalker? We really are the only key you'll need, and this week the key opened the door to angling heaven!

Dock and Dine
September 24, 2012

Stay a Week and receive a $50 payback from your dockage fees if you spend $50 or more at Hawks Cay Restaurants during your stay*

Stay a month and receive a $100 per week payback from your dockage fees for each week that you spend $100 or more at Hawks Cay Restaurants during your stay*

Indulge in a delicious stay between September 20th 2012 and January 31st 2013 (excluding December 24-31) by asking for our Dock and Dine Special.

To take advantage of this tasty offer, you must confirm your Weekly or Monthly Stay with a prepayment of Dockage by October 15, 2012. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount.

*For tracking purposes, Restaurant bills will need to be charged to your slip account to qualify. Paybacks will be issued as dockage credits on your slip account at departure.

Wishing you fair seas and delicious dining when docked...

Dock and Dine Deadline Extended
September 16, 2012

Take advantage of this offer when you make your Thanksgiving Plans.

Stay a Week and receive a 50.00 payback from your dockage fees if you spend 50.00 or more at Hawks Cay Restaurants during your stay*

Stay a month and receive a 100.00 per week payback from your dockage fees for each week that you spend 100.00 or more at Hawks Cay Restaurants during your stay*

Indulge in a delicious stay between September 20th 2012 and January 31st 2013 (excluding December 24-31) by asking for our Dock and Dine Special.

To take advantage of this tasty offer, you must confirm your Weekly or Monthly Stay with a prepayment of Dockage by November 15, 2012. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount.

*For tracking purposes, Restaurant bills will need to be charged to your slip account to qualify. Paybacks will be issued as dockage credits on your slip account at departure.

Wishing you fair seas and delicious dining when docked...

This could be your Wake Up Call!
September 13, 2012

Who wouldn't want to wake up to this view every morning of your marina stay! Spectacular Sunrises greet you from Hawks Cay Marina's docks and herald the beginning of a day as full of excitement or as peaceful and relaxing as you chose to make it. James Bond-like Jetlev adventures, Snorkeling, Scuba or Snuba, Fishing, Kayaking and other activities may fill the day before you head to the local fish house known as Toms Harbor House right on our docks. Or you might indulge in a peaceful spa day before taking in the sophisticated surroundings of our Latin inspired restaurant Alma. Whatever you chose to do with your days and nights, start them with a Hawks Cay Sunrise!

September is an excellent month to fish in the Florida Keys. Inshore, big bonefish and permit are cruising the shallows, and our backcountry waters are loaded with redfish and resident tarpon. Flat-calm conditions make September ideal for site fishing for tailers and wakers using both fly and spinning gear, with the best bites generally occurring early in the morning or later in the day.

On the reef, September offers consistent rod-bending action for a variety of hard-fighting and great tasting species. Book a half-day trip with one of our seasoned pros and bring home a cooler full of delicious mangrove, mutton, and yellowtail snapper filets. You may even land a big black grouper!

Offshore, the blackfin tuna bite is red hot, and it’s not too late to catch a trophy slammer mahi mahi (dolphin, as we like to call them). Speaking of offshore fishing, I can’t mention the month of September without talking about daytime swordfishing. The swordfish bite has been outstanding with fish over 200-pounds common this time of year. Just a few weeks ago our very own Captain George Campbell of Snapshot Charters caught a 405-pounder!

No matter what type of fishing you want to do, our deep-sea and backcountry guides will put you on the fish. Take a stroll down to the marina and see what they caught today.

Tight lines and good fishing… Sheldon

Big Boat, Small Boat, all in for Labor Day Weekend!
September 1, 2012

It doesn't matter what size boat, it doesn't matter if you cruise in or trailer in, Hawks Cay Marina is the place to be for Labor Day Weekend! We want to thank all our boating friends who have chosen to share their end of Summer holiday with us!If you're still cruising call us about one of the few slips remaining for Sunday night, or spend the week with us and indulge in the only key you need for a perfect vacation!

Looking forward to a great Labor Day Weekend!
August 27, 2012

The sun is back out, the winds are subsiding, and it's not too late to book a slip in paradise for the Labor Day Weekend! Hawks Cay Marina is open and waiting for you to cruise in for a great visit. Come by boat or trailer in to the resort marina where you can do it all, or do nothing at all! Whether you're looking for an action packed end to summer doing everything form Dolphin Encounters to Jet-leving or a quite weekend of poolside relaxation and maybe a visit to Calm Waters Spa, Hawks Cay Marina is the only key you'll need for a perfect Labor Day Weekend.

August is a great month to catch a variety of trophy fish in the Florida Keys. Inshore, the backcountry is in prime season to sight fish for big redfish; and look for the Gulf and Oceanside flats to be active with bonefish, permit, and tarpon, especially early and late in the day.

On the reef, August is one of the best months to load the coolers with delicious snapper and grouper filets. Half-day reef trips offer a great shot to catch muttons, mangroves, yellowtails, black and red groupers, and more! Offshore, head out to the humps for consistent blackfin tuna action, and expect another push of big dolphin (mahi mahi) to come through soon.

And don’t forget about lobstering! August 6th marks the opening day of the Florida Keys recreational lobster season. So get your lobster license, and jump on in to start catching your bugs!

No matter the type of fishing you wish to do in the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay has a captain and boat that will put you on the fish. Take a stroll down to the marina and see what they caught today.

Tight lines and good fishing… Sheldon

JULY FISHING REPORT BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, SHELDON SUGA
July 3, 2012

July is an exceptional month to fish in the Florida Keys. Offshore, calm summer days and light seas create ideal conditions for venturing offshore in search of dolphin (mahi-mahi), tuna, swordfish, wahoo and more. If you’ve never been deep sea fishing, you’re in for a real treat this month. Few fish fight as well, taste as good, and are as fun to catch as dolphin (mahi mahi). Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, our Hawks Cay offshore boats will put you on the fish and show you a great time on the water.

Inshore, July is a prime month for stalking the flats for permit and big Florida Keys bonefish. It’s also a great month to head into the backcountry for tarpon, redfish, snook, speckled trout, and any of a number of other species you may catch.

On the reef, July is also an excellent time to go after tasty snapper and grouper to fill your coolers. Mangrove, mutton, and yellowtail snappers are all readily available this month, with plenty of delicious keeper grouper mixed in. Stop by the docks to check out the day’s catch and talk to the captains about the hot bite!

Tight lines and good fishing… Sheldon

Cruise into a Star Spangled Stay!
June 27, 2012

The winds are settling down, the sunshine has returned, and you still have time to book a Star Spangled Stay at Hawks Cay Marina. Spend the whole Independance week and take advantage of our great Fuel Fighters rate, or just cruise in for a few nights. Enjoy our Fireworks on the 4th, let someone else do the captaining and join Sundance Watersports for the Moonlight and Margaritas Cruise on the 3rd, indulge in a treatment at Calm Waters Spa, enjoy Toes in the Sand dining at the Beach Grill...the possibilities are endless! Find out why Hawks Cay truly is the only Key you'll need.

Yellowfin Returns to Hawks Cay Resort and Marina
June 23, 2012

It's Yellowfins as far as the eye can see! We're thrilled to welcome our friends from Yellowfin for another great weekend of fishing and family fun!

JUNE FISHING REPORT BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, SHELDON SUGA
June 1, 2012

Summer is here, and there’s no better time to fish in the Florida Keys.

Inshore, the water temperatures are rising and the bonefish are tailing! So don’t pass up a chance to get on the water with one of our Hawks Cay guides to go hunt down these grey ghosts of the shallows. The flats and backcountry are also alive with hungry permit and tarpon, with big silver kings still being caught in good numbers around the bridges as well.

Out in the blue water, large schools of dolphin (mahi mahi) have been pouring through, offering exciting fishing action and great eating when you get back to the dock! On the reef, the grouper bite has been excellent, with quality mangrove and yellowtail snapper in the mix as well.

Whatever it is you decide to fish for, Hawks Cay captains will put you on the fish and provide a memorable fishing adventure you won’t soon forget.